Recordings

The Seasons (4 CD box set)

You would expect superlative performances of classics for wind … and that is exactly what we have here. The Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet’s sound is really flexible: from warmly expressive and fluidly lyrical, to the kind of pungency and rhythmic sharpness demanded not only by French composers.This is a superb collection of extremely fine performances, and should be part of everyone’s collection: no need to try, just buy!

Mládí

The Berlin Philharmonic Quintet plays with perfect intonation and balance. Every one of the seemingly unlimited range of colors that Reicha draws from his ensemble tells with unobtrusive clarity, and the works are perfectly paced. The last of the pieces for English horn and wind quartet, an adagio in siciliano rhythm, is particularly haunting, and it marries well with the second movement of Mládí. The Martinu performance also has an appealing lightness, with nicely sprung rhythms and the composer’s jazz inflections relished, but not to the point of affectation. For the intelligence of the program as a whole, not to mention the outstanding sonics, this disc remains very recommendable. 9/10

Danses et Divertissements

Stephen Hough, Piano

Poulenc’s lyricism is treated with sensitivity and discretion, neither over-egged nor undernourished. Moments where the music might threaten to sound portentious are poignantly voiced. And there is ample wit and levity, Hough’s lithe playing complementing the zest of the wind instruments in those passages in all three movements where the music irrepressibly bubbles along. This entire recital ... is perfomed with virtuosity and iridescent colour.

— Daily Telegraph, London 07/2009

Given the reputation of the performers, the listener will expect a thoroughly professional concert, and the Berlin Quintet delivers. They spit out the difficult licks with aplomb; capture the graceful, quirky, and virtuosic nature of Gallic wind music; the group boasts excellent balance, blend and intonation. They understand too the expressive demands of each composer, phrasing and dovetailing with great subtlety, but also knowing when to play with full force and fury. Hough completely owns Poulenc’s difficult concerto-like writing, diving into the Sextet without trepidation, yet beautifully matching the winds in the more sensitive and reflective passages.

One of the most exciting aspects of these performances is the outstanding sound quality created by the engineers .... one of the finest wind instrument discs in recent memory. This is a disc that is not to be missed.

— hifi+ - 12/2009

Not only does it have a stunningly performed and captured performance of the Jolivet piece, but it also has a major Poulenc piece with none other than Stephen Hough at the piano. No recoding can completely replicate the mesmerizing, brain-vibrating effect of wind instruments that you get close up in a live setting, but this comes pretty darn close, and captures the rich colors the musicians so expertly get out of this music.

— SACD.net - Aug/2013

the nimbleness of their playing is undeniably jaw dropping

— Classic FM, 10/2009

Mozart & Beethoven – Quintets for Piano & Winds

Stephen Hough, Piano

An immensely civilized record … The great Mozart Quintet is played with aristocratic eloquence…superb recorded sound… the balance is wonderful … an ideal mixture of clarity and warmth … I can’t think of another recording that makes a more convincing case (for the Beethoven Quintet) … The wind playing has a slightly sharper edge in the Beethoven and Hough’s piano sound, while always beautiful, is here extremely sensitively tuned to the slightly grainier texture of early Beethoven. Add to that playing which has an unfailing sense of direction, propelled by speeds that are so well judged that they feel completely right, and you have a very fine performance indeed … the new Hough/Berlin coupling is a winner – it’s a very fine disc indeed.

— International Record Review, 05/2007

BIS-CD-1552

W. A. Mozart Quintet in E flat Major, KV 452

W. A. Mozart Adagio in C minor and Rondeau in C Major, KV 617

Ludwig van Beethoven Quintet in E flat Major, Op. 16

The performances are beautiful ... the playing really is exquisite, with the [quintet] doing some amazing things to match timbres and phrasing. Stephen Hough partners the Berliners very considerately while still projecting his part with personality ... the unfailing musicality of the playing and the glowing sonics make these sweet and gentle performances very enjoyable indeed.

This interpretation of Mozart’s Quintet K452 come closest to that of Murray Perahia and the ECO winds on Sony, a performance that has taken on all comers since its initial release at the end of the LP era. However there are moments of this BIS recording in which the Berlin players surpass their ECO counterparts.

— Classics Today

Editor’s Choice

— Gramophon (GB) 1/01

Franz Danzi – Complete Wind Quintets

It must be said that the Berlin Philharmonic Wind Quintet contribute more than a few thalers-worth to the success of these works in this beautifully engineered recording; their intonation, melifluous sound and precision of ensemble are impeccable. The music itself has great charm and polish, enhanced by the persuasive craftsmanship of its scoring. This is a most enjoyable album.